Engineering Design Research Articles

Engineering Design of Forced-Flow Cooling HTS Cable for SMES System With High Current Capacity

Engineering Design of Forced-Flow Cooling HTS Cable for SMES System With High Current Capacity

A Prototype Design of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine as One of the Renewable Energy Sources in Brunei

Background: According to the Asia Wind Energy Association, Brunei can harness the power of wind energy to meet its future demands for a reliable energy source that is both renewable and non-polluting. Objective: A preliminary study to design and manufacture wind turbines needs to be initiated earlier especially in the Brunei with has potential wind energy. Methods: This preliminary study compares several Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) types and examines the optimal design in terms of mechanical parts for wind speed characteristics in Brunei. The project focuses on the engineering design stages to obtain a selected design that differs from other available designs. Results: The preliminary study successfully generated a small amount of electricity from the mechanical rotation of the VAWT. Conclusion: Although the preliminary study can generate a small amount of electricity, several design parameters need to be improved in further study. Proper manufacturing technologies are also needed to fabricate a better VAWT.

Insight into All‐Solid‐State Li–S Batteries: Challenges, Advances, and Engineering Design

AbstractThe advancement of conventional lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) is hindered by the shuttle effect and corresponding safety issues. All‐solid‐state lithium–sulfur batteries (ASSLSBs) substitute the liquid electrolytes with solid‐state electrolytes (SEs) to completely isolate the cathode and anode, thereby effectively suppressing polysulfide migration and growth while significantly enhancing energy density and safety. However, the development of ASSLSBs is accompanied by several challenges such as the formation of Li dendrites, electrode degradation, poor interfacial wettability, and sluggish reaction kinetics, etc. This review systematically summarizes the recent advancements made in ASSLSBs. First, a comprehensive overview of the research conducted on advanced cathodes utilizing sulfur (S) and lithium sulfide (Li2S) is displayed. Subsequently, the SEs are classified and discussed that have been implemented in ASSLSBs. Furthermore, the issues of interfaces and anodes in ASSLSBs are analyzed. Finally, based on current laboratory advancements, rational design guidelines are proposed for each component of ASSLSBs while also presenting four practical recommendations for facilitating early commercialization.

ENRICHMENT OF SYSTEMS THINKING FOR PROBLEM SOLVING IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS USING THE HERMENEUTIC LOOP: CASE STUDIES FOR DESIGNERS IN THE FIELD OF REMOTE COMMUNICATION

The systems thinking approach to problem solving is a dynamic and productive approach. However, emphasizing only the objective aspects of a phenomena and neglecting their subjective aspects can decrease its problem solving power. In order to enhance the problem solving power of systems thinking, it is proposed in this article to enrich systems thinking by using the hermeneutic loop. This applied research adopts practical aspects of systems thinking and hermeneutics in understanding and solving problems more effectively. The proposed approach is comprised of an additive loop, named the hermeneutic loop, concerning simultaneously “the whole system and its parts” and “subjectively and objectively”. Requirements of systems thinking are highlighted involving the holism and life cycle of the system. A summary of the considerations for systems thinking regarding holism and lifetime are as follows: (1) feedback in lifetime, (2) feed forward, (3) combining human and tools, (4) resources, (5) stock and flow and (6) carrying capacity (saturation). The utilization of this enriched systems thinking is investigated in three real engineering design processes, including case studies for designers in the field of remote communication. As the result, the proposed enriched systems thinking provides an improved understanding of the whole, which improves the solving power of the designers of components, and adds subjective product design to the objective design.

Highly Robust and Self-Adhesive Soft Strain Gauge via Interface Design Engineering.

Highly robust soft strain gauges are rapidly emerging as a promising candidate in the fields of vital signs and machine conditions monitoring. However, it is still a key challenge to achieve high-performance strain sensing in these sensors with mechanical/electrical robustness for long-term usage. The multilayer structural design of sensors enhances sensing performance while the interfacial connection of heterogeneous materials between different layers is weak. Herein, inspired by the efficient perception mechanism of scorpion slit sensilla with tough interface interconnections, the synergy of ultra-high electrical performance and mechanical robustness is successfully achieved via interface design engineering. The developed multilayer soft strain gauge (MSSG) exhibits a strain sensitivity beyond 105, a lower detection limit of 8.3µm, a frequency resolution within 0.1Hz, and cyclic stability over 63000 strain cycles. Also, the tough interface improves the level of heterogeneous integration in the MSSG which allows to endure different stresses. Furthermore, an MSSG-based wireless strain monitoring system is developed that enables applications on different complex dynamic surfaces, including accurate identification of human throat activity and monitoring of rolling bearing conditions.

Machine learning-guided co-optimization of fitness and diversity facilitates combinatorial library design in enzyme engineering

The effective design of combinatorial libraries to balance fitness and diversity facilitates the engineering of useful enzyme functions, particularly those that are poorly characterized or unknown in biology. We introduce MODIFY, a machine learning (ML) algorithm that learns from natural protein sequences to infer evolutionarily plausible mutations and predict enzyme fitness. MODIFY co-optimizes predicted fitness and sequence diversity of starting libraries, prioritizing high-fitness variants while ensuring broad sequence coverage. In silico evaluation shows that MODIFY outperforms state-of-the-art unsupervised methods in zero-shot fitness prediction and enables ML-guided directed evolution with enhanced efficiency. Using MODIFY, we engineer generalist biocatalysts derived from a thermostable cytochrome c to achieve enantioselective C-B and C-Si bond formation via a new-to-nature carbene transfer mechanism, leading to biocatalysts six mutations away from previously developed enzymes while exhibiting superior or comparable activities. These results demonstrate MODIFY’s potential in solving challenging enzyme engineering problems beyond the reach of classic directed evolution.

Synergistic Layered Design of Aerogel Nanocomposite of Graphene Nanoribbon/MXene with Tunable Absorption Dominated Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

Electromagnetic pollution presents growing challenges due to the rapid expansion of portable electronic and communication systems, necessitating lightweight materials with superior shielding capabilities. While prior studies focused on enhancing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE), less attention is given to absorption-dominant shielding mechanisms, which mitigate secondary pollution. By leveraging material science and engineering design, a layered structure is developed comprising rGOnR/MXene-PDMS nanocomposite and a MXene film, demonstrating exceptional EMI shielding and ultra-high electromagnetic wave absorption. The 3D interconnected network of the nanocomposite, with lower conductivity (10-3-10-2 S/cm), facilitates a tuned impedance matching layer with effective dielectric permittivity, and high attenuation capability through conduction loss, polarization loss at heterogeneous interfaces, and multiple scattering and reflections. Additionally, the higher conductivity MXene layer exhibits superior SE, reflecting passed electromagnetic waves back to the nanocomposite for further attenuation due to a π/2 phase shift between incident and back-surface reflected electromagnetic waves. The synergistic effect of the layered structures markedly enhances total SE to 54.1 dB over the Ku-band at a 2.5 mm thickness. Furthermore, the study investigates the impact of hybridized layered structure on reducing the minimum required thickness to achieve a peak absorption (A) power of 0.88 at a 2.5 mm thickness.

Developing Customer Loss Function for Door Opening Angle in Passenger Cars: Balancing the Ergonomic Performance between “Entry/Exit (Ingress/Egress) Accommodation” and Door Reachability

<div>Occupant packaging is one of the key tasks involved in the early architectural phase of a vehicle. Accommodation, as a convention, is generally considered related to a car’s interior. Typical roominess metrics of the occupant like hip room, shoulder room, and elbow room are defined with the door in its closed condition. Several other roominess metrics like knee room, leg room, head room, and the like are also specified. While all the guidelines are defined with doors in their closed condition, it is also important to consider the dynamics that exist while the occupant is entering the vehicle. This article expands the traditional understanding of occupant accommodation beyond conventionally considering the vehicle interior’s ability to accommodate anthropometry. It broadens the scope to include dynamic conditions, such as when doors are opened, providing a more realistic and practical perspective. As a luxury car manufacturer, it is important to ensure the best overall customer experience at each touch point of the vehicle. When the customer enters the vehicle, there should be sufficient space provided by the door opening angle for a comfortable entry. The larger the opening angle, the better is the “entry accommodation” and vice versa. However, a wide-open door also necessitates the customer to bend more, after being seated, to reach its handle and close it. Thus, it becomes a compromise between what is possible as accommodation while the customer is entering the vehicle and how easy it is to close the door after being seated. The same logic holds good while the customer opens the door and exits the vehicle. This article aims to develop a customer loss function (CLF) between the two conflicting criteria by considering relevant anthropometric distribution of customers. This study focuses on driver compartment and the methodology developed is also pertinent to rear compartment with minor adaptations. Since driver’s seating position is heavily dependent on anthropometry, finer details of occupant seating position are also considered in this study. CLF developed in this article will help the designer and packaging engineers in making informed decisions on the door opening angle, by being conscious of the customer loss/gain for defined performance metrics.</div>

Experimental and theoretical investigation on flexural behavior of concrete-filled tubular flange girders

Concrete-filled tubular flange (CFTF) girders offer superior torsional stiffness compared to traditional I-shaped plate girders, providing enhanced flexural performance. To accurately assess the flexural capacity of CFTF girders, both flexural tests and theoretical analyses were conducted on specimens with and without concrete decks. The experimental data were meticulously analyzed to understand the flexural mechanism, yielding sequence, interface slip, strain distribution, and confinement effect of CFTF girders. Subsequently, finite element models were then utilized to analyze the influence of cross-section dimensions and material optimization on the flexural behavior of CFTF girders. Comparative analyses with I-shaped girders were also performed to highlight the structural advantages of CFTF girders. The proposed flexural calculation formulas were validated against both experimental and analytical results, demonstrating a fitting accuracy between 95 % and 98 % for the yield moment and between 96 % and 98 % for the ultimate moment. The method proposed in this paper provides a reliable and accurate approach for evaluating the flexural capacity of CFTF girders, significantly contributing to the advancement of design and analysis practices in structural engineering.

A cost-effective iron-rich medium entropy alloys with the balance of strength and ductility

Iron-rich medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) have attracted attention due to the balance for cost and properties of alloy. In this study, a combined metastability engineering and eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) design strategy were employed to develop a cost-effective, iron-rich MEAs for the Fe–Cr–Ni–Al MEAs system using CALPHAD simulations. This approach enabled the tailored control of soft and hard phases within the non-isoatomic MEAs system by manipulating the elemental ratios. Specifically, increasing the aluminum (Al) content promoted the stability of the BCC/B2 phase, and the microstructure of the MEA transitioned from a single-phase FCC structure to a mixed FCC + BCC/B2 structure, culminating in a final single-phase BCC/B2 structure. This BCC/B2 phase precipitation strengthening mechanism led to enhanced microhardness and yield strength in MEAs with high Al content. Notably, the Al11-as alloy demonstrated a yield strength of 692.7 ± 30.4 MPa (precipitation strengthening is ∼428.98 MPa, accounting for the true yield strength of the alloy ∼61.9 %), with an ultimate tensile strength reaching a maximum value of 992.3 ± 32.77 MPa. Moreover, the alloy retained a satisfactory elongation of 7.1 ± 2.9 %. These efforts hold promise for the development and application of cost-effective, iron-rich MEAs for the Fe–Cr–Ni–Al MEAs system.

Analyzing antimicrobial activity of ZnO/FTO, Sn-Cu-doped ZnO/FTO thin films: Production and characterizations.

In the developing field of nanotechnology, ZnO (zinc oxide) based semiconductor samples have emerged as the foremost choice due to their immense potential for advancing the development of cutting-edge nanodevices. Due to its excellent chemical stability, low cost, and non-toxicity to biological systems, it is also utilized in various investigations. In this study, the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method was used to generate FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide)/ZnO, and tin (Sn)-copper (Cu)-doped ZnO thin films at varying concentrations on FTO substrates. After being stacked 40 times in varying concentrations on the FTO substrate, FTO/ZnO thin films and Sn-Cu-doped thin films were annealed at 300°C. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy-(EDS), the agar diffusion test, and the viability cell counting method, the minimum inhibitory concentration, structural properties, surface morphology, antibacterial properties, bacterial adhesion, and survival organism count of FTO/ZnO thin films and Sn-Cu-doped thin films were investigated. Both doped and FTO/ZnO films with varying Sn-Cu concentrations expanded harmonically on the FTO substrate, according to the SEM-EDS investigation. The doping concentration affected their morphological properties, causing changes depending on the doping level. Antibacterial activity was observed in the powder metals, but no antibacterial activity was found in the thin film form. The highest adhesion rate of bacterial organisms on the produced samples was observed when the FTO/ZnO/Sn-Cu doping rate was 1%. In addition, the lowest adhesion rate was observed when the FTO/ZnO/Sn-Cu additive ratio was 3%. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: ZnO based semiconductors highlight significant potential in advancing nanodevice technology due to their chemical stability, cost-effectiveness, and biocompatibility. Employing the SILAR method, the study innovatively fabricates FTO/ZnO and Sn-Cu-doped ZnO thin films on FTO substrates, exploring a novel approach in semiconductor manufacturing. Post annealing at 300°C, the research examines the structural and surface morphological changes in the films, contributing to the understanding of semiconductor behavior under varying conditions. The study delves into the antibacterial properties of ZnO thin films, offering insights into the potential biomedical applications of these materials. SEM-EDS analysis reveals that doping concentrations crucially influence the morphological properties of ZnO thin films, shedding light on the optimization of semiconductor performance. Findings indicate a specific doping rate (1% Sn-Cu) enhances bacterial adhesion, while a 3% additive ratio minimizes it, suggesting implications for biomedical device engineering and antibacterial surface design.

Identification of sliding surface and classification of landslide warning based on the integration of surface and deep displacement under normal distribution theory

Advanced identification of the potential sliding surface of a slope and accurate early warning are crucial prerequisites for effective management of landslides and timely and prevention of catastrophic accidents. This study analyzes the statistical characteristics of landslide displacement evolution. Based on the normal distribution theory, random variables of displacement velocity and acceleration with random errors are introduced into the analysis of surface displacement information, and random variables of relative displacement with random errors are introduced into the analysis of deep displacement information. When the random variables do not follow the normal distribution, the warning time can be obtained. Therefore, an advanced landslide classification warning method is established. The analysis results showed that analysis results from the April 30 landslide project at an open pit mine indicate that the earliest warning time for landslide initiation is 2020/2/19, while the earliest warnings for acceleration occur on 2020/4/15 and the fast acceleration on 2020/4/25. These three-level warning times align with reality, and the inferred slip surface position corresponds to the actual weak layer range. The primary power source driving landslide originates from behind the sliding body which subsequently pushes rock mass along weak layers near the south wing, north wing, and front in succession. Research findings can enhance landslide warning accuracy, facilitate advance identification of sliding surface, provide scientific basis for open-pit slope engineering design, as well as mitigate casualties and property losses.

Human Centred Design in Engineering

This paper investigates the idea of human-centred design in engineering and its implications for the discipline. It examines the state of knowledge as it stands right now, examines data gathered from studies, and spots trends and patterns. The results emphasize how crucial it is for engineers to take into account human needs and viewpoints in order to provide creative and effective solutions

New measurement of the neutron-induced total cross-sections of natCr in a wide energy range on the Back-n at CSNS

Abstract The neutron total cross-section of natCr plays a crucial role in new nuclear engineer design and fundamental science. A new measurement of neutron-induced total cross-sections of natCr has been performed using the transmission method on the back-streaming white neutron beamline (Back-n) at the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). Neutron energy was determined using the time-of-flight technique. The neutron total cross-sections of natCr have been obtained across an exceptionally broad energy range (0.3 eV-20 MeV) with one experiment for the first time. The resulting effective total cross-sections has been compared with the existing experimental data in different energy ranges, and a good agreement with the evaluated libraries has been found. Theoretical calculation of the total cross-section in the energy range of 1.5 MeV to 20 MeV has been conducted using the TALYS-1.96 and compared with the present results. The measurement provides a high-quality total cross-section of natCr including detailed uncertainty data across a wide energy range, offering a valuable reference for nuclear data re-evaluating and nuclear engineering design.

Engineered Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Energy Conversion and Storage.

Designing efficient and cost-effective materials is pivotal to solving the key scientific and technological challenges at the interface of energy, environment, and sustainability for achieving NetZero. Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDs) represent a unique class of materials that have catered to a myriad of energy conversion and storage (ECS) applications. Their uniqueness arises from their ultra-thin nature, high fractions of atoms residing on surfaces, rich chemical compositions featuring diverse metals and chalcogens, and remarkable tunability across multiple length scales. Specifically, the rich electronic/electrical, optical, and thermal properties of 2D TMDs have been widely exploited for electrochemical energy conversion (e.g., electrocatalytic water splitting), and storage (e.g., anodes in alkali ion batteries and supercapacitors), photocatalysis, photovoltaic devices, and thermoelectric applications. Furthermore, their properties and performances can be greatly boosted by judicious structural and chemical tuning through phase, size, composition, defect, dopant, topological, and heterostructure engineering. The challenge, however, is to design and control such engineering levers, optimally and specifically, to maximize performance outcomes for targeted applications. In this review we discuss, highlight, and provide insights on the significant advancements and ongoing research directions in the design and engineering approaches of 2D TMDs for improving their performance and potential in ECS applications.

Evaluasi Rasio Kapasitas Plat Lantai Jembatan Pangwa Berdasarkan Mutu Beton Aktual

This article reviewed the effect of decreasing quality of concrete in the vehicle deck on Pangwa bridge located in Trienggadeng, Pidie Jaya district, Aceh Province. The bridge deck was planned to use concrete with a quality of 30 MPa, however in practice, it was estimated that only 18.8 MPa was achieved. Based on the actual concrete quality, this article reported a reanalysis of the bending and shear capacity ratio. Structural analysis was carried out using SAP2000 software referring to engineering design data. The stages include modeling the bridge as a space frame steel construction with a deck using reinforced concrete material, loads calculation, internal force analysis, and checking the structural capacity. Load calculations and load combinations refer to the standard Loading for Bridges (SNI 1725: 2016). The bridge deck was analyzed as a one way slabs using D16-150 reinforcement with steel grade fy = 320 MPa. The loads taken into structure analysis include: self weight, additional dead load, truck load, and wind load. Based on the loads on the bridge, it is estimated that the possible forces arising from certain conditions are calculated based on the ultimate load combination of Strength-I, Strength-II, Strength-III, Strength-IV and Strength-V according to the provisions of SNI 1725-2016. Based on the results of the structural analysis recapitulated from the value of the load combination, the maximum and minimum moments were 388.68 kN.m and -391.22 kN.m while the maximum shear force were 169.60 kN. The planned bending capacity was 396.303 kN.m (design) and was achieved at 365.568 kN.m (actual) or 7.75% less than the ultimate moment. The pons shear force arising on the bridge deck was Vu = 169.6 kN with pons shear capacity, ØVn = 874.895 kN in the design data and was achieved by 703.811 kN (actual). Based on the results of these calculations, it can be concluded that Pangwa bridge still meets the level of safety for the use as a vehicle traffic lane.

Probabilistic damage evaluation of isolated steel box-girder bridge excited by near-field earthquakes

Modern civilization regards bridges as lifelines, and their failure due to significant earthquakes in the past has raised concerns about their seismic vulnerability. The effect of near-fault earthquakes on the bridge vulnerability is a significant problem that has not been well explored. The present work utilizes fragility analysis to assess the probabilistic seismic risk evaluation of a continuous isolated steel box girder bridge exposed to near-field ground motions (NFGMs). Probabilistic seismic demand models (PSDMs) of the bridge are explored to reliably associate key demand and intensity measures to capture the seismic performance of the system. This study examines a steel box girder bridge in Guwahati, India, isolated with lead rubber (LRB) bearings and a friction pendulum system (FPS). To achieve a comparable seismic response, each bearing system is designed for a similar isolation period. The PGV/PGA ratio is a useful metric for classifying ground motion suites and estimating their frequency content by classifying the input excitations into low- and high-frequency motions. To perform probabilistic seismic risk assessments, two ensembles of forward directivity records with PGV: PGA >160 cm/s/g (high frequency) and PGV: PGA <160 cm/s/g (low frequency) are considered. Moreover, one ensembles of near-field incorporating the fling effect and far-field are also utilized. The failure probability under the seismic hazards for isolated bridges is assessed utilizing different damage measures (DM) such as maximum displacement ductility of pier (DDP), displacement of deck (MDD), drift ratio of pier (PDR), and rotational ductility (RDP). The near-field earthquake damage probability is significantly impacted by the PGV/PGA ratio, as a high PGV/PGA ratio results in a greater probability of damage than a low PGV/PGA ratio. In conclusion, guidelines are provided that will help the design engineers for designing bridges with LRB and FPS isolators for seismic isolation in the event of varying ground motion characteristics.

Insect tracheal systems as inspiration for carbon dioxide capture systems.

Membrane technology advancements within the past twenty years have provided a new perspective on environmentalism as engineers design membranes to separate greenhouse gasses from the environment. Several scientific journals have published articles of experimental evidence quantifying carbon dioxide (CO2), a common greenhouse gas, separation using membrane technology and ranking them against one another. On the other hand, natural systems such as the respiratory system of mammals also accomplish transmembrane transport of CO2. However, to our knowledge, a comparison of these natural organic systems with engineered membranes has not yet been accomplished. The tracheal respiratory systems of insects transport CO2 at the highest rates in the animal kingdom. Therefore, this work compares engineered membranes to the tracheal systems of insects by quantitatively comparing greenhouse gas conductance rates. We demonstrate that on a per unit volume basis, locusts can transport CO2 approximately ⁓100 times more effectively than the best current engineered systems. Given the same temperature conditions, insect tracheal systems transport CO2 three orders of magnitude faster on average. Miniaturization of CO2 capture systems based on insect tracheal system design has great potential for reducing cost and improving the capacities of industrial CO2 capture.

Early-stage Development of the CoRISMA Mechanical Circulatory Support (CMCS) System for Heart Failure Therapy.

CoRISMA MCS Systems Inc (Hamden CT) is developing an innovative mechanical circulatory support system (CMCS) as a durable therapeutic option for heart failure (HF) patients. The CMCS system is comprised of an axial flow pump, non-contacting hydrodynamic bearings, and integrated DC motor designed to be fully implantable in a left atrial (LA) to aortic (Ao) configuration; this unloading strategy may be particularly beneficial for HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The small (5.5 cm3), lightweight (20g), and low power (5-7W) device design should allow for a less invasive off-pump implant. We present early-stage engineering development and testing of the prototype CoRISMA pumps. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was performed to evaluate flow and shear in two impeller (3 blades, 0.5mm thickness, 8.9mm diameter, 0.15mm gap, polished titanium) and diffusor (5 blades, polished titanium) candidate designs. Test apparatuses were custom built to expedite development of the impeller/diffuser designs and iteratively refine the CFD models. Two candidate impeller/diffusor designs were fabricated and tested in each of the two test apparatuses (n = 4 impeller/diffuser + test fixture configurations) in static mock flow loops (hydrodynamic H-Q curves, 3.5 cP glycerol solution at 37°C), and in dynamic mock flow loops (hemodynamics, 3.5 cP glycerol solution at 37°C) tuned to HF conditions (mean aortic pressure 50 mmHg, central venous pressure 15 mmHg, aortic flow 3.0L/min, and heart rate 80bpm). CFD predicted flows of 4.56L/min and 4.82L/min at 100 mmHg for impellers/diffusers 1 and 2, respectively. Impeller 2 required less torque to generate a 6% increase in fluidic flow, and the diffuser had a larger area of high pressure, indicative of lower friction, which likely contributed to the increased efficiency. Experimental testing for all four configurations in the static and dynamic mock loops met performance metrics as evidenced by generating 4.0-4.5L/min flow against 70-76 mmHg pressure at 25,000rpm and restoring hemodynamics in the dynamic mock flow loop (MAP = 80 mmHg, CVP = 0 mmHg, total flow = 5.5L/min) from baseline simulated HF test conditions. These results demonstrate proof-of-concept of the early engineering design and performance of the prototype CoRISMA pumps. Engineering specifications, challenges observed, and proposed solutions for the next design iteration were identified for the continued development of an effective, reliable, and safe LA-to-Ao CMCS system for HF patients. Current design plans are underway for incorporating a wireless energy transfer system for communication and power, eliminating the need for and complications associated with an external driveline, to achieve a fully-implantable system.

Integration Experiences of International Students: A Case Study of Sub-Saharan Students in a Moroccan School of Design and Engineering

An increasing number of international Students opt for studying at a university in a foreign country. It is believed that this mobility makes these students face academic and social integrating challenges in their new learning environment. In Morocco, thousands of students, who are scholarship-granted by the Moroccan government, coming from different countries, chiefly from Sub-Saharan Africa seek education in different universities of the kingdom. The main aim of this study extends its focus to explore two outcomes. Particularly, it investigates the social and academic integration experiences of a case study of international students undertaking an undergraduate programme at a Moroccan school of design and engineering along with the challenges these students encounter. Moreover, the study situates these experiences within the institutional conscious efforts that are implemented to achieve an integrational goal. Data were collected from a case study in spring 2019 by interviewing 20 Sub-Saharan students studying at the Moroccan Design and Technology engineering school in Meknes (ENSAM: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers) and 3 of the school staff members. Using thematic analysis and then interpretative phenomenology as a guiding framework to analyse and present the data, the findings revealed that the study's participants have experienced both their social and academic integrative patterns at the school in the same way. Indeed, three major themes were identified and analysed, namely, Programmes promoted by ENSAM on integration, relationship patterns between Sub-Saharan and Moroccan students and barriers to integration. The study revealed that the various integration efforts carried out by the school do not sufficiently cater for Sub-Saharan students' perspectives on their social and academic integration experiences. Additionally, staff knowledge regarding the integration of these minority groups is not adequately enhanced through pre-service training that covers best practices for successful integration. Language barrier and interaction patterns between Sub-Saharan students with their host ones are also found to influence Sub-Saharan students' social and academic integration. It is suggested that Moroccan Higher education institutions (HEIs) should acknowledge integration as a long and challenging process for Sub-Saharan students, and that an evaluation of integrative practices promoted at the school is needed.